Circular around Fontcalent

The route starts at the car park opposite the prison.

(S/E) Continue along the path. Just after the centre, take the path on your left to reach the depot.

(1) Keep left. If you go straight ahead, you will start the climb to the summit! Cross the canal and continue along the path.

(2) Cross a small bridge whose railings have been broken by walkers, as it is the only place to cross the ditch. Be careful, as the bridge has no railing, but it is wide. Continue along the path.

(3) Pass a water basin on your left and continue along the path. It is sometimes a little difficult to follow the route, but just use the pylons as landmarks and follow the tracks left by motocross bikes.

(4) The path passes between a few houses. At the end of this small urbanised area, take the path slightly to your right.

(5) Continue to follow the pylons and go around the Serra.

(6) When you reach the bend in a tarmac road, take it a few metres to the right to rejoin the path on the right and pass the "Prohibido el paso a vehículos" chain. Be careful here, as there is a fork: take the left-hand path and walk along the path with the large pylons on your right. Continue straight ahead. The path will narrow and climb slightly.

(7) Pass the "Coto de caza" signs. The path then runs alongside a "Propriedad privada" (private property). You will see this as you pass a few signs. This is the property of the mining company that the hike is approaching, Usine Pasaval (construction and civil engineering company).

(8) Leave the entrance to the mining site on your right and begin the descent. Be careful, as it is a little steep. Head towards the AVE railway line. A few metres before reaching the railway line, turn left and cut across the fields. For a few metres, there is no real path. Use the bridge that crosses the railway line overhead as a landmark, and you will soon see the road that will take you to this bridge. This is Chemin de St-Jacques. At the road, turn right.

(9) Cross the tracks and follow this tarmac road (Chemin de St-Jacques).

(10) Take the dirt track on the right (still Chemin de St-Jacques) and continue straight ahead between the railway line (on your right) and the olive groves and solar panels (on your left).

(11) At the end of this path, you will reach a paved road and the junction of a bridge that crosses over the railway line, which is closed as it is on private property. Continue straight ahead, walking alongside the property.

(12) Cross the railway line again, this time underneath, and continue straight ahead. You have now left the Way of St James.

(13) Join the main road and turn right, continuing for about 700 metres. Be careful to stay on the side of the road. Visibility is good.

(14) After a slight bend in the road, take the path on the right. There is a red barrier, but you can get past it by following the motorbike tracks if it is closed. Do not continue along this path, but take a smaller path immediately on the left. Once again, follow the motorbike tracks.

(15) Here, leave the path and cut across the fields on your left to reach the path that runs alongside the prison.

(16) Continue straight ahead along the side of the centre to reach the main entrance and the starting point on your left (S/E).

When you arrive at the prison, you may see a sign that says "Acceso reservado a personal con acreditación" (Access reserved for authorised personnel). Don't pay any attention to it. You can still park in the car park opposite the centre (a sort of wasteland).

This is not a very busy route. You may come across a few motocross bikes...

Don't be put off by the numerous piles of rubbish scattered here and there. The place is wild, certainly, but you can feel the human activity in the surrounding area. You just have to accept it and learn to appreciate this slightly industrialised aspect.

It's an easy alternative to the climb to the summit, which rises to 700 metres.